Activities

  • Fly Fishing

    Casting instruction and general fly fishing education.

  • Lodge Activities

    Participants will have access to yard games, pool table, shuffleboard, board/card games, and 24 hour camp fire.

  • Lodge Education

    Fly tying, bug identification, fish education, and more.

Daily agenda

During your time at Oak Heart Lodge, you will enjoy a laid-back, outdoor experience fly fishing and building bonds with other service members.

  • Our guests arrive mid-afternoon and meet our host and lead guide, Chris “Uber” Raines. Chris is an experienced local guide and lives at the lodge with our guests. You can learn more about Uber and our other guides here. After arriving, guests settle into the lodge and prepare for a few days of fishing, camaraderie, and healing.

  • We meet our guides either at the lodge or a local launch and hit the river. Our guests may choose to fish as little or as much as they like…there is no pressure at Oak Heart Lodge. Back at the lodge, you can tie flies, practice casting, or hang out.

    Our chef will have dinner prepared for guests to cook on their own time. It’s a team effort!!

  • Similar to Wednesday, we will meet our guides either at the lodge or a local launch and hit the river. Our guests may choose to fish as little or as much as they like…there is no pressure at Oak Heart Lodge. Back at the lodge, you can tie flies, practice casting, or hang out.

    Our chef will have dinner prepared for guests to cook on their own time. It’s a team effort (but try not to burn it like last night)!

  • On our final fishing trip, we will have breakfast, pack lunch, meet our guides, and fish the Muskegon River. Our chef returns to cook and serve a delicious meal while you relax on the final night of your trip.

  • On our final day, we will thank you again for your sacrifices and for visiting us. Together, we will prepare a large breakfast and send you on your way with an Oak Heart Lodge t-shirt.

Meals

For breakfast, you will have a choice of muffins, fruit, yogurt, and a selection of juices and coffee. After breakfast, guests will make their own lunch to travel with them as they leave to fish. Lunch on the river, In the boat, on the river bank, or in the car… we let each group figure it out. Dinner is served each evening. Waters, sodas, coffee, tea, and juices are snacks available 24 hrs at Oak Heart Lodge.

Alcoholic beverages are prohibited while on the property or anytime during your stay.

  • "The food has been fantastic, accomidations are very comfortable, but most importantly, the guides are wonderful."

    –Jim A.

  • "Tuesday's and Friday's dinner were a wonderful and surprising touch. I must have gained 10 pounds! The fully stocked fridge and pantry with all of the goodies was very much appreciated."

    –Jim T.

  • "You'll never know how much this means to us, and how many lives are postively affected by The Oak Heart Lodge experience."

    –Drew W.

Our Guides

To provide the best experience possible, Oak Heart Lodge has hired professional local fly fishing guides each day to ensure a positive and fun experience.